Interlocking mechanism



Feb. 19, 1922 c. W. wYMAN INTERLOCKING MECHANISM Filed Maron 22, 1924 j. .au 7 ,4 /7/ 3 l MN@ M m .1; p, w i ,L

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Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. WYMAN, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

Application led March 22, 1924. Serial No. 701,225.

lily invention relates to interlocking mechanisiu.

An object elf my invention. is the provision olf' an improved interlocking mechanism espccially adapted to control the increments of an electric switch and a cooperating cen,- niiflor plug; ivheiiiby each controlled in cci'- tcfiin ilioeitious olI the other. lviore pa viciiiai ly, my invention has loil its object the provi lon of an improved interlock controlling mechanism controlling a` switch and a conuector plug especially adapted to use in connection with .mining machines intended 'for use in gas laden atmospheres ai l ifunctioning to prevent the ignition of the gas during movement ci the switch or the connector plug, this being accomplished by preventing,` the making or breaking; ci any circuits by movements the comici-,tor plug while the switch. is closed, or the movement of the switch to closed position when the connector plugis only partially inserted and so liable to withdrawal with resultant breaking.; ot a circuit.

1t will he understood that my invention may he en'ibodied in various forms, but l have shown in the accompanying drawings, for purpoaes oi illustration, one oi the forms which it may assume in practice, illustrating this torni as applied to a mining mi Fig. 1 a eide elevation ci ar'iinin machine @qu o ld the illus-:tigetive .d ment of i iiiiproveineni.

" an enlarged detail sectional fr D 4 on the bro 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 ie z. seiitional View' on the line 3*-3 oi? Fig. L.

Fig. 4l a detail sectiiinal view on the section line lp/loi Fig. 2.

ln the illustrative construction l have disclosed a mining machine M of standard form and supplied current through a cable 1y terminating in a plug 2 which provides several different contacts numhered 3,4, 5 and G, of which the lirst three are connected to power wires Within the cable Q and the fourth to a ground Wire therein. The element 6 is larger than the others to compel proper insertion of the plug. Current llow from the several power wires to the usual motor on the machine is controlled by a suitable main line switch, herein a knife switch carried on the machine and with three-phase alternatingr iii the iforiu of iii blades 7, S, 9 each of ch is pivotally connetged, ae shown at l() in the case oi. the blade T, with a si'iaiioiiary it and caen ol which is pivol'ailly mov to engagement with a clip-like contact, indicated at ll in the case of the blade 7. lt will he understood that the connector glug 2, not all of whose details are shown as they do not, other than as illustrated, enter into the invention, adapted to engage, through its contacts 3, al, 5 and 6 with suitable stationary sockets, which are arranged to receive these elemente u'hen the plug is in position.

lt Will he observed that the several blades are head to each other and moved tohl, n'ieans oi a bar 13 which may be in. le forni of a rod running inside an insuatiiig tulfe and having af serie tubes surrounding the irst iii cned t lee V4for 'the purpose oit' spacing the iiladcs from eaclii other and from the holding` means at the ence of the member 13. Pvotally conn )ted to the har 1 3 at points adjacent the @i el? the .latter but spaced just inside the nl 7 and 9 are links 14 and 15 which are 2O which is secuJeoL in non-rotative relation to a shaft 2l nia shaft is the operating sh:l ,iih Sir-.nich and is provided kwith f3 a hai f e secured to one end thereof out .side a casing 2?) which houses the switch meclifiniain and the socket for the plug. lt will be noted iroif-.i Figi-s. and 4C that the shaft 2l is crt at. at a point between its ends and opposite a re 24 into which the plugi5 intended to be forced, so that the cylindrical exterior surface of the plug may in a particular position et the shaft 2l be free to move longitudinally. The peripheral surface oi the plug is also cut away as indicated at 2S to permit in the 'full seated'iliesition of the plug, the rotation of thel shaftl 21. it being; evident from Fig. 4 that when the shaft 21 is rotated to cause closing of the switch, an uncut portion of its periphery enof larger ters the notch 2,6 in the plug and so prevents fixed contacts of the connector lead to and are secured as by suitable nut-s or binding posts 27 to the contacts 11 while other leads lead ofi' to the motor from similar nuts 28 associated with the stationary pivoted contacts 10. A series of insulating plates 80, 3 82 and 33 are held together by suitable rods 34 and and these are so arranged that each blade and the contact with which it is adapted to cooperate is positioned between a pair of plates. The set of plates may be held in position by sprinO' clips 36 and the seating of certain plates in sockets therefor, which permits easy removal., the clips cooperating with an insulating plate 37 on. wh ich the switch parts are mounted.

F rom what has been said the advantages of this construction need no extended amplification. However, it may be said that when the plug is in position and the switch is closed, it ispositively held against jarring opening due tothe cooperation of the links 15 and 19 and 14 and 18 which form iii effect a toggle mechanism. In the event that any effort is made to withdraw the plug when the circuit is'cl'osed, this will of course be frustrated by the impossibility of withdrawing the plug` due to the interlock between the socket 26 and the shaft 21, and it is obviously impossible to close the switch with the plug partially in place, wheie it is apt to be withdrawn or knocked out, due to the fact that the shaft 21 can only be rotatedwhen it is opposite the groove 26 and this does not come opposite the shaft until the plug is fully home.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice,y it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration .and that the invention may he modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its vspirit or the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as'new and desire to secure hy Letters Patentis: p

l. In an interlocking mechanism, a pivoted switch, a connector, an actuating .mechanism for said switch including a shaft eccentric to the axis of pivoting` of said switch and extending to opposite sides of said connector, and interlocking connections on said shaft and connector.

V2. In an interlocking mechanism, a pivoted switch, a connector, an actuating mechanism for said switch including a shaft eccentric' to the axis of pivoting of said switch, and interlocking connectionsV between said shaft and connector comprising grooves in each of the same. y e Y 3. In an interlocking mechanism, a pivoted switch, a connector, an actuating mechanism for said switch includinga shaft to ,thel axis of pivoting` of `said switch, and,

eccentric interlocking connections between said shaft and connector including grooves ni each of the same` for preventing insertion of the con locking connections between said shaft and connector.

6. In. any interlocking i'necliani'sin, a plurality of parallel pivoter; switch blades, means connecting' them for simultaneous pivotal inovei'nent, a shaft parallel to the axis of such pivotal movement, toggle connections between said shaft and means, a connector, a socket therefor, the direction of insertion and removal of said connector parallel to the plane ofpivotal movement of said switch blades, and interlocking connections between said shaft and connector.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, a plurality of switch elements, actuating means therefor including toggle mechanism comprising elements adapted tobe straightened into alinement on closure of aid switch, a connector plug, and means for actua *.'ng said iirst mentioned actuating means interlocking with said plug. i

8. In a mining machine, a frame carrying a casing, a main line s vitcli in said casing having an operating shaft, socket in said casing to receive a connector plug, ground and power wires termina iing in a connector plug, and direct interlocking connections bctwee said shaft and plug.

9. In an interlocking n'iechanism, switch, a connector co :mrisinga monili-er supporting a pl rality of contact elements adapted to make circuits on contact with other elements with respect to which they, are relatively movable, and a switch operating shaft, said member having a peripheral recess interlocking with said rshaft to lock said connector in circuit making position while said switch is closed. Y

10. In an interlocking mechanism, av switch, a connector comprising a member supporting a yplurality of contact elements adapted to 'make circuits on contact with other elements with respect to which they are relatively movable, a switch operating shaft, said shaft having a peripheral recess filled by said member when the latter is Yadjacent to but out of i circuit making position whereby said switch is held in open position. i e

11. In an interlocking mechanism, a switch, a connector comprisinga member supporting a plurality of contact elements adapted to lll() iii make circuits on contact with other elements with respect to which they are relatively movable, a switch operating shaft, and means including peripheral recesses in said member and shaft for locking said connector in circuit making position or preventing its insertion while said switch is closed and for precluding closure of saidL switch when said member is adjacent to but out of circuit making position.

12. In combination, a plurality of knife blade switches having their movable elements ijiivoi'zable about alined axes, a connector plug socket inlerected by the line of said axes at a point out, ,de the planes of mov ment of said several :no able elements, an operating shaft for switches extending parallel lo but offset from such line, and operative connections between said shaft. and the movable elements of said switches, said shaft having a portion extending in one position thereof into the bore of said socket and adapted to interlock with a plug receivable in the socket.

13. In combination, a plurality of knife blade switches having their movable elements pivotable about alined axes, a connector plug socket intersected by the line of said axes at a point outside the planes of movement of said several movable elements, an operating shaft for said switches extending parallel to but offset from such line, and operative connections between said shaft and the movable elements of said switches, said shaft having a portion extending in one position thereof into the bore of said socket and adapted to interlock with a plug receivable in the socket and being cut away peripherally to permit locking by a plug in another position.

14;. In combination, a plurality of knife blade switches having their movable elements pivotable about alined axes, a connector plug socket intersected by the line of said axes at a point outside the planes of movement of said seve il movable elements and arranged with its axis parallel to the planes of movement of the. movable elements of said switches, an operating shaft for said switches extending parallel to but offset from such line, and operative connections between said shaft and the movable elements of said switches, said shaft having a portion extending in one position thereof into the bore of said socket and adapted to interlock with a plug receivable in the socket.

15. In combination, a plurality of knife blade switches having their movable elements pivotable about alined axes, a connector plug socket intersect-ed by the line of said axes at a point outside the planes of movement of said several movable elements and arranged with its axis parallel to the movable elements of said switches when the latter are in closed position., an operating shaft for said switches extending parallel to but offset from such line, and operative connections between said shaft and the movable elements of said switches, said shaft having a portion extending in one position thereof into the bore of said socket and adapted to interlock with a plug receivable in the socket.

16. In combination, a plurality of knife blade switches having their movable elements pivotable about alined axes, a connector plug socket intersected by the line of said axes at a point outside the planes of movement of said several movable elements and arranged with its axis parallel to the movable elements of said switches when the latter are in closed position, an operating shaft for said switches extending parallel to but offset from such line, and operative connections between said shaft and the movable elements of said switches, said shaft having a portion extending in one position thereof into the bore of said socket and adapted to interlock with a plug receivable in the socket and being cut away peri herally to permit locking by a plug in anotiier position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaA ture.

CHARLES WV. IVYMAN. 

